Photos

In Maori Waikanae means (wai - water, kanae - to stare wildly).
The Waikanae River is the single source for water for the towns of Paraparaumu and Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast on the south western coast of the North Island.

Until this year, when bores where drilled down to pump water up from the aquifiers, water usage has been restricted during the summer months due to lack of rainfall and flow down the Waikanae River.

This photo was taken from the Otaihanga walk bridge, the very day a Drought was about to be declared, November 2005 rainfall was the lowest for 60 years.

It had rained lightly overnight in the Tararua Ranges and the water was flowing freely down the river.

Around this area (Otaihanga) is prone to flooding and in recent times, (Oct 1998 and Jan 2005) some homes have had to be evacuated after big storms when the river overflowed it's banks.